Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in chicago | 265 available

265 Criminal Defense lawyers are available in chicago, Illinois, including Morris Anyah, Motta & Motta LLC, North Legal Services, and O-Meara Law. These lawyers are rated between 4.5/5 to 4.9/5 and 70% provide free consultation.

Criminal Defense Case Statistics Overview

Criminal Defense Case Timeline

Min2Max18

Criminal defense cases in Chicago typically resolve within 2 to 18 months, depending on case complexity, court schedules, and whether the matter proceeds to trial.

chicago Court Backlog

Low500Medium1500High3000

The Cook County court system often manages a backlog ranging from 500 to 3,000 criminal cases, reflecting both new filings and ongoing matters.

Criminal Defense chicago Filing Volume

Min700Max1800

Estimated monthly criminal case filings in Chicago range from 700 to 1,800, based on recent public court data.

Criminal Defense Case Outcomes

Pre-litigation25Post-filing35Trial10

Resolution rates vary: approximately 25% of cases resolve before formal charges, 35% after filing but before trial, and about 10% result in favorable trial outcomes for defendants.

Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Morris Anyah

Firm: Law Office of Morris A. Anyah, LLC.
53 W Jackson Blvd #1260 , Chicago , Illinois 60604
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Morris A. Anyah is a top criminal defense and criminal appeals attorney in Chicago. He is a former Cook County prosecutor and war crimes attorney at The Hague. He is now one of the pre-eminent, “go to” lawyers when people search for a top-notch criminal defense or criminal appeals attorney in Chicago. He recently obtained an acquittal for a defendant charged with six counts of first degree murder, after a jury trial before the Circuit Court of Cook County, and he represented former Liberian president Charles Taylor at his war crimes trial in The Hague. Attorney Anyah is a trial lawyer with a reputation for excellence and he brings a wealth of experience (over 20 years) and skill to the cases that he handles. He handles cases in state and Federal court in Chicago and elsewhere, and he founded his law firm with the objective of providing the highest quality of legal representation to persons charged with serious crimes, those appealing unfair and wrongful convictions, and those who have sustained injury due to abuse of power, or the negligence, recklessness, or willfulness of others. As a plaintiff’s personal injury and civil rights attorney in Chicago, he has filed suits and won significant monetary damages for his clients over several years of practice. He is admitted to the bars of several U.S. Federal and state court jurisdictions, including in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Georgia. Call Attorney Anyah now at.
Avvo Review
“any detailed points within the case, which made the States Attorneys case unravel, time and time aga”
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Lawyers.com Review
“I am writing to recommend Mr. Anyah in criminal defense and DUI representation. As a former colleague at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, I've had the pleasure of working…”
Yelp Rating: Rated 3.5 out of 5

Motta & Motta LLC

Firm: Motta & Motta LLC
161 N Clark St , Chicago , Illinois 60601
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, General Litigation, Divorce & Family
Yelp Review
“Alison Motta is exactly the type of lawyer you want to have in your corner -- tough, creative, resourceful, knowledgeable and relentlessly hard working. She...”
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Google Review
“Bob & Alison are the best defense attorneys in Chicago. Very professional, committed, and fight hard for clients.”
— Alex C

Reid Schar

Firm: Jenner & Block LLP
353 N Clark St , Chicago , Illinois 60654
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Reem Odeh

Firm: Law Offices of Reem Odeh
134 N. La Salle, 9th Floor , Chicago , Illinois 60602
Practice Areas: Business & Commercial, Criminal Defense , Family , Immigration & Naturalization , Real Estate , Immigration
Attorney Reem H. Odeh is a dedicated litigation attorney who concentrates in a range of law areas including immigration, personal injury, criminal defense, family, medical malpractice, social security, commercial, bankruptcy, and disability law.. The Law Offices of Reem Odeh is located in the heart of the city withing walking distance to most courts and city offices at 134 N. La Salle, the same office as the Law Offices of Sandaman, Levy, & Petrich.. Of counsel* with attorneys throughout the US, The Law Offices of Reem H. Odeh and its associates carry valuable knowledge of the law on an international scale. The firms' reputation has stemmed from both local and international legal matters.. Attorney Reem Odeh and her associates are dedicated to seeing that each every client receives zealous representation, attention and respect.. Of Counsel* Attorneys: Attorney David Trais, Attorney Waleed Ghuneim.. *Of counsel denotes attorneys who collaborate with our firm on a cases by case basis. They work independently from The Law Offices of Reem H. Odeh and are not legally responsible in any way for cases except those we collaborate on. All such collaborations will be disclosed to our clients.
Avvo Review
“She knows what she's doing! She is very busy but she will squeeze some time in her busy schedule to”
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Lawyers.com Review
“I fully endorse and recommend Attorney, Reem Odeh. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her on several very difficult cases and found her to be very smart, creative and driven to …”
Google Review
“I had an excellent experience with this law office. The team was professional, responsive, and truly cared about my case. They explained everything clearly and made the whole proce…”
— Bahaa Alrob
Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Rajeev Bajaj

Firm: Rajeev K Bajaj
3245 W Fullerton Ave , Chicago , Illinois 60647
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Avvo Review
“han 6 days. I emailed him on [email protected] and he responded ASAP asking me to”
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Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

R. Tamara de Silva

6133 S Ellis Avenue , Chicago , Illinois 60637
Practice Areas: Civil ,Civil Rights,Criminal Defense ,White Collar Crime
Avvo Review
“Ms. de Silva explained my rights in complex arbitration and walked me through entire process.”
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Google Review
“Great experience with Tamara! I initially couldn’t find legal counsel that had enough experience in my field to direct us through some complex issues, so glad I found Tamara.”
— Joshua Kackos
Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Purav Bhatt

Firm: The Law Office of Purav Bhatt
1655 S Blue Island Ave, , Chicago , Illinois 60608
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Thank you for visiting my Avvo page.. Rest assured that when you are represented by the Law Office of Purav Bhatt & Associates you will receive thorough, attentive, personal representation. Our firm provides a detailed understanding of the law, the court system and our clients' needs. We are here as your legal advocate and will work tirelessly to make sure justice has been served while giving you and your legal matter the time it deserves.. Representation by the Law Office of Purav Bhatt & Associates guarantees aggressive negotiations, honest representation and first-class trial practice.. As a former Cook County State's Attorney I have the in depth understanding necessary for your legal success.. Call or email us anytime at
Avvo Review
“When you google top rated drug case lawyers in illinois Purav pops up .... When I say this man does”
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Lawyers.com Review
“I endorse this lawyer.”
Yelp Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Pissetzky Law

Firm: Pissetzky Law
35 E Wacker Dr , Chicago , Illinois 60601
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Yelp Review
“"I extend these words of admiration to the lawyer who, with his skill and abilities, managed to defend me in a case that seemed lost. I will never get tired...”
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Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Phillip Haddad

Firm: Phil Haddad Law
5113 S Harper Ave #2c , Chicago , Illinois 60615
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Avvo Review
“Got 2 separate charges dismissed, F and OWI. 2 separate lawyering techniques. Thanks Phil! Highly re”
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Lawyers.com Review
“A top trier criminal defense attorney. If you want the best chances of staying out of jail, call him. I endorse this lawyer”
Avvo Rating: Rated 3.3 out of 5

Peter Y. Qiu

Firm: Law Offices of Peter Y. Qiu
518 W 26th Street , Chicago , Illinois 60616
Practice Areas: Bankruptcy,Business ,Civil ,Copyrights,Corporate ,Criminal Defense ,Estate Planning,Family ,Immigration & Naturalization ,Personal Injury,Probate ,Real Estate ,Trusts,Wills,Workers Compensation
Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Peter Ciesielski

Firm: Ciesielski, Soukaras, and Crozier Law, LLC
1115 N. Ashland Ave. , Chicago , Illinois 60622
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Peter M. Ciesielski is a Founding and Managing Partner at Ciesielski, Soukaras, & Crozier Law, LLC, as well as Attorney and Managing Partner of Just Results Law Group in Chicago. He and his firms practice Personal Injury, Criminal Defense (all felony levels, including DUI and traffic), Driver's License Reinstatement, and Real Estate Closings. With unparallelled expertise and unwavering commitment to each case, Peter Ciesielski is well-versed in helping his clients retain their rights and freedom.. Mr. Ciesielski has previously served multiple prestigious judicial clerking positions before joining Hofeld and Schaffner (a leading Plaintiff's Personal Injury Firm in Chicago) to fine-tune and focus his legal career on Personal Injury cases. With his endless experience and academically exceptional background, Attorney Ciesielski is perfectly positioned to fight for his clients in a wide range of cases.
Avvo Review
“significant value and saved my clients at all levels of the criminal process. Cannot recommend him”
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Lawyers.com Review
“I have worked with Peter on a number of cases and respect his work so highly that I refer all of my criminal cases to him. He is knowledgeable, professional, and gets the job done.”
Yelp Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Percy D Mitchell Attorney at Law

Firm: Percy D Mitchell Attorney at Law
123 W. Madison , Chicago , Illinois 60602
Practice Areas: Real Estate, Divorce & Family, Criminal Defense
Yelp Review
“It is with great pleasure I write this review. Mr. Percy Mitchell delivered exactly what I needed. His knowledge , professionalism and dedication to...”
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Avvo Rating: Rated 4.8 out of 5

Paul Burnson

Firm: Chicago Trusted Attorneys
444 W Lake St Ste 1700 , Chicago , Illinois 60606
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Paul Burnson is a defense attorney with Chicago Trusted Attorneys. Paul attended Illinois State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a focus on Constitutional Law. Immediately after graduating from Illinois State, Paul began law school at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois.. At John Marshall, Paul was a member of the International Human Rights Clinic, where he and his fellow students counseled numerous clients through the asylum process. In addition, Paul was a member of the Restorative Justice program, where he spent a semester counseling and teaching Restorative Justice practices to teachers and students at Hamline Elementary School. Paul also worked as a law clerk for David M. Smith Attorney at Law, P.C. throughout law school and gained valuable insight and skills that prepared him for practice.. After graduating from John Marshall, Paul was hired as an Associate Attorney with Chicago Trusted Attorneys, where he specializes in traffic violation, aggravated speeding citation, suspended and revoked drivers license, DUI, misdemeanor, and felony matters.. Paul has successfully represented clients with a litany of charges, spanning from simple traffic tickets to Class X Felony drug cases resulting in complete dismissal of charges. Clients with specialty licenses such as a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) trust Paul to protect their driving record so they can continue to financially provide for their families. Paul vigorously defends his clients and leaves no stone unturned. He has won numerous cases in which his client’s livelihood was on the line and a positive result seemed impossible.
Avvo Review
“Title says it all. Man charges 1K a month and doesn't even follow up on his own written commitments”
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Lawyers.com Review
“Paul Michael Burnson is an incredible attorney. He is diligent in his review of every case and works incredibly hard to ensure that his clients get the best legal representation po…”
Avvo Rating: Rated 3.7 out of 5

Patrick J. Cotter

1200   120 South Riverside Plaza , Chicago , Illinois 60606
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Yelp Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

OMara Gleason & OCallaghan

Firm: O'Mara, Gleason, & O'Callaghan
230 W Monroe St , Chicago , Illinois 60606
Practice Areas: General Litigation, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense
Yelp Review
“If you need a lawyer, it's not always a great situation. Let me assure you that that was the case for me. However, working with this firm made what was a...”
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Yelp Rating: Rated 3.5 out of 5

North Legal Services

Firm: North Legal Services
2342 Wn Ave , Chicago , Illinois 60647
Practice Areas: Adult Education, Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense, Immigration,
Yelp Review
“There no need for me to go into the details of my personal financial misfortunes. But it suffices to say that I was in deep deep trouble. The economy took...”
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Avvo Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Richard Fenbert

Firm: Fenbert & Associates, LLC
Address: 10 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3702 , Chicago , Illinois 60603
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Richard is the founding member of Fenbert & Associates, LLC.  He worked at a nationally recognized criminal law firm in Cleveland, Ohio, before moving back to his hometown.  Richard represented celebrities, physicians, and athletes.  He also lectured on DUI/DWI/OVI, served on the Board of Directors of the Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, and was a frequent guest on Cleveland Radio W.E.R.E. Legal Lines.. When he moved back to Chicago he decided to open a firm that represented individuals.  Our clients are workers, parents, and students who come to us because they need help overcoming a personal injury or a criminal arrest.  We provide dedicated representation through one on one communication, hard work and zealous advocacy.. If you also want dedicated representation please call us and ask for Richard.
Avvo Review
“w areas of strength, at least from my perspective. Responsiveness - From the get-go, this has been”
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Lawyers.com Review
“Rick is a very knowledgeable attorney who puts his clients' interests first. I endorse this lawyer.”
Yelp Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Piet Schneider & Associates

Firm: Piet Schneider & Associates
134 N La Salle St , Chicago , Illinois 60602
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI
Yelp Review
“David and Chuck are the best!! They will always do whats best for you and are straight forward. They have never failed me! They will always be my first call...”
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Yelp Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

Radakovich Daniel E Atty

Firm: Radakovich Daniel E Atty
900 W Jackson Blvd , Chicago , Illinois 60607
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense
Yelp Review
“There are no words to adequately convey the respect and admiration I have for this man. He is a dying breed, a true master of his craft. When your life and...”
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Yelp Rating: Rated 5.0 out of 5

O-Meara Law

Firm: O'Meara Law
53 W Jackson Blvd , Chicago , Illinois 60604
Practice Areas: DUI, Criminal Defense
Yelp Review
“Massive thanks got o Attorney Michael O'Maera! I had a case that was denied twice due to ineffective guidance and shady dealings. After being put in...”
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Google Review
“Michael is an excellent attorney. He brings his expertise, knowledge and exceptional care for his clients. I’m super happy with his services. Always on top of things easy to reach …”
— Sara M

Disclaimer: This content is based on aggregated public information and estimated market trends. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.